Tauheedul Islam Boys' High School Review 2026: Exceptional Results from a Boys' School with Leadership Specialism

In September 2012, the doors opened at Tauheedul Islam Boys' High School. What began as Star Academies' first Muslim faith-based free school has evolved into one of the highest-performing boys' secondary schools in England. The school's journey from its early temporary premises to its striking purpose-built campus on Sumner Street in 2019 reflects its ambition and rapid growth. With around 730 students, TIBHS ranks 433rd in England for GCSE performance (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 10% of English secondary schools. More recently, it achieved a full Outstanding rating from Ofsted in March 2024, ten years after its first inspection. The school is welcoming and inclusive, accepting pupils from all faith backgrounds and none, despite its Islamic character.

Step into TIBHS and you encounter a place built for ambition. The contemporary school building opened in 2019, designed with light and space in mind. Students move between lessons with clear purpose. The Islamic ethos is evident without being exclusionary: prayer facilities are integrated naturally into daily life, but non-Muslim pupils and families are welcomed and respected as full members of the community.

Principal Majid Ditta has led the school since February 2018 and has been recognised with the Principal of the Year award at the Star Awards 2025. His leadership has shaped an environment where high expectations are genuinely universal. Staff speak with evident pride about working here. The school values discipline, compassion, and mutual respect for all people regardless of difference. These are not abstract concepts but lived principles that shape behaviour policy and pastoral decisions.

The 2024 Ofsted inspection found that pupils maintain the highest standards of conduct throughout school and whilst travelling to and from school. The school feels purposeful, neither pressured nor indifferent, with a genuine sense of community that parents and students comment on repeatedly. Sixth form students have dedicated spaces, including the TB6 lounge, creating a sense of progression and responsibility as students move through the school.

GCSE Performance

TIBHS consistently delivers strong outcomes. At GCSE in 2024, the Attainment 8 score was 62.3, significantly above the England average of 45.9. The Progress 8 score of +1.26 indicates that pupils make well above-average progress from their starting points, meaning they achieve more than would be expected based on their prior attainment. 84% of pupils achieved a strong pass (grades 9–5) in both English and Mathematics. The school ranks 433rd in England (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the national high performance band, well above the majority of schools. Locally, it ranks 2nd among Blackburn secondary schools.

The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) is strong, with 51.6% of pupils achieving grades 5 or above in the EBacc subjects, compared to a national entry rate of 40.5%. This indicates both breadth of study and resilience in traditional academic subjects.

A-Level Performance

TB6, the sixth form established in September 2022, celebrated its first cohort results in summer 2024. The first year proved exceptional, with 62.79% of A-level grades at A*–B, including 36% at A* or A. This places the sixth form at a strong competitive position. The school offers core STEM subjects alongside facilitating subjects including Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Economics, with plans to expand provision further in September 2026. The sixth form ranks 678th in England (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the typical performance band, reflecting solid post-16 provision. Locally in Blackburn, it ranks 3rd among sixth forms.

Teaching is rigorous and structured. Staff know precisely how pupils' knowledge should develop over time and use consistent approaches to identify and rectify misconceptions. The 2024 Ofsted report noted that staff use their expertise to present complex information accessibly, and the school has embedded a systematic approach to ensure highly effective support for learning. There is genuine breadth in the curriculum. The school offers separate sciences from the start, languages including Arabic alongside modern European languages, and a wide range of humanities and practical subjects.

The school is designated as a Microsoft Showcase School for the fourth consecutive year (2024–25), a recognition reflecting how technology is woven into teaching and learning. Year 11 pupils recently participated in the "Immersive Islam" project, using virtual and augmented reality to bring religious and technical study to life, demonstrating how the Islamic context enriches rather than narrows the curriculum. Class sizes are reasonable, with strong student-to-staff ratios supporting differentiation.

The ambitious culture extends to university progression planning. Students at TB6 benefit from personalised progression pathways and targeted support for competitive university places, including medicine and dentistry applications. The school is engaged with elite universities; Harvard has hosted TB6 student admissions presentations and university visits, signalling ambition that matches the school's capacity. The school works with students aspiring to Oxbridge, GCHQ, KPMG, and BAE Systems apprenticeships, indicating links to both academic elite and leading employers. Post-16 results are early, but the trajectory is clear: academic excellence combined with leadership development. Many students progress to Russell Group institutions and competitive courses, though detailed destination breakdowns are still being compiled as the sixth form matures.

TIBHS's extracurricular provision reflects both breadth and genuine naming of specific activities. The school operates a Leadership Specialism across its provision, evident in how enrichment is structured.

Sports are embedded in school culture. Football, rugby, cricket, and handball are offered at both recreational and competitive levels, with after-school and weekend fixtures. Inter-school competitions occur regularly. Swimming, indoor rock climbing, and boxing feature as enrichment activities. A Sports Specialist Academy designation has deepened provision, with students encouraged to participate in at least one activity per week.

Music thrives beyond the classroom. Regular musical performances are part of school life, with ensembles and concerts featuring prominently in the calendar. Drama is similarly valued, with school productions occupying dedicated rehearsal and performance space.

Academic enrichment extends beyond exams. The National Maths Challenge sees pupils competing at regional and national levels. The Debating Club and Debating Society allow students to develop oratory skills and argumentative reasoning. The IT Club and Coding initiatives support computer science learning. The First Lego League Club engages younger students in robotics and engineering challenges with real-world application. The Science Club and MAD Science Club complement classroom learning with hands-on investigation. Art Club develops creative practice. The Poetry Club provides space for literary expression and analysis. A Book Club encourages sustained reading and discussion.

Students also engage in service. Duke of Edinburgh Award runs to Gold level, integrating outdoor adventure, skill development, and volunteering. The Student Parliament allows pupils to shape school policy; members are elected by peers and meet fortnightly with the Principal or senior leaders. Tauheedul's Got Talent showcases creative abilities. Scouts and cadets provide alternative frameworks for character development and leadership. Social enterprise projects encourage students to think entrepreneurially about solving community problems. Arabic Drama offers cultural grounding in the school's Islamic identity. The School Magazine provides journalism and editorial experience. A Kick Start Breakfast Club offers informal mentoring and support before the school day begins.

The Enrichment Activities Programme is structured and ambitious. In recent years, activities have included Engineering Club, leadership development workshops, Forensic Science Day, and Science at Work events where professionals visit to discuss careers and university pathways. This combination of academic extension, creative opportunity, physical activity, service learning, and vocational awareness means few students leave without discovering multiple sources of engagement and achievement beyond grades.

The school has invested meaningfully in pastoral systems and student wellbeing. Heads of Year lead pastoral support for vulnerable learners through the house system and year group structures. Teaching Assistants and Learning Support Assistants provide in-class support. All students' progress and learning is monitored half-termly, with report cards sent home. When a student is achieving below their end-of-year target, a Performance Review meeting includes the student, parents, and a member of the Senior Leadership Team to set supportive targets and discuss needs collaboratively.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities are supported within a mainstream context. The 2024 Ofsted inspection found that pupils, including those with SEND, achieve exceptionally well. Suitable support is swiftly implemented to help pupils overcome barriers. Additional transition visits are arranged for Year 6 students well before the authorities' standard induction days, ensuring familiarity and confidence before the move to secondary school. Support staff receive external training, including specialist areas such as Deaf Awareness.

The school maintains a culture of open communication, with parents and pupils actively engaged in the life of the school. The 2024 Ofsted report noted that leaders have created an open and positive culture where concerns are addressed promptly and fairly.

Year 7 entry is highly competitive. In 2024, the school received 380 applications for 118 places, representing a subscription ratio of 3.22:1. The school is non-selective but uses a tiered admission policy. Priority is given first to looked-after children and those with Education, Health and Care Plans naming the school. Then, a maximum of 50% of remaining places are allocated to Muslim children whose parents are members of specified local mosques or whose children attend The Olive School, Blackburn. Beyond these criteria, places are allocated by proximity to school. For 2024 entry, the last distance offered at Tauheedul Islam Boys' High School was 0 miles (around 3.22 applications for each place in the latest available data). Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place.

The school's annual Open Evening invites prospective Year 6 pupils and families to see the school in action with in-class demonstrations, displays, and staff engagement. Applications proceed through the Local Authority's standard coordinated admissions process; parents apply via their home local authority, not directly to TIBHS.

This is a state school with no tuition fees. The school day runs from 8:50am to 3:20pm. Standard uniform requirements apply, and there may be associated costs for PE kit and school trips. Music lessons are available, though specific pricing varies depending on the instrument. The school encourages parental involvement, including attendance at parents' evenings, curriculum guidance sessions, pastoral evenings, and pupil review meetings. Access to Blackburn town centre and major transport links is good; the school is located in an area with growing transport infrastructure. Families rely primarily on bus services or personal transport to reach the Sumner Street campus.

Competition for places is intense. With 3.22 applications per place, entry cannot be guaranteed unless distance criteria are met or priority criteria apply. Families living outside the immediate locality should verify distance with the school before choosing to apply. The tiered admissions policy, while inclusive, means Muslim families have some priority within broader allocation criteria; non-Muslim families should understand this is embedded in the school's admission arrangements.

The Islamic character is genuine and pervasive. Daily prayer, Quranic study, and Islamic values are woven through school life. Students from non-Muslim backgrounds are welcomed and respected, but those uncomfortable with an Islamic school environment may prefer mainstream comprehensive alternatives. Families should visit during Open Evening to gauge whether the faith character aligns with their family values.

The sixth form is newly established and small. TB6 opened in September 2022 and welcomed its first Year 13 cohort in September 2023. While results are excellent, the sixth form lacks the maturity and breadth of subject offering of established sixth forms elsewhere. If a student is seeking a very wide range of A-level options, they may find broader choice at larger independent or state sixth form colleges. However, for students committed to the school's values and able to engage with its STEM and character focus, TB6 is highly attractive.

TIBHS is a high-performing, inclusive boys' secondary school with genuine Islamic character, strong recent Ofsted validation, and ambitious leadership. It suits families seeking academic rigour, character development, and genuine service to community within a faith-informed ethos. Non-Muslim families can thrive here, but they should be comfortable with the Islamic context. The main barrier is entry, not education; once a place is secured, the school delivers excellent outcomes and genuine belonging.